Nerja - Charming Seaside Town, Costa del Sol, Southern Spain

Originally a small fishing village on the Mediterranean Sea, Nerja is still known for its traditional Andalusian atmosphere and mood.

Located right on the beach front, Nerja is sunny 300 days per year. Enjoy the sandy coves, mountain views and also the Balcon de Europa (balcony of Europe), which is part of an ancient fortress (approx. 900 AD) overlooking the ocean views. There are several beaches, including the Playa Burriana (Blue Flag beach), and there is a charming seaside walk along the beachfront (known as the Paseo de Carabineros).

The old traditional centre of Nerja is charming, with white washed houses, narrow streets and the usual floral decorations on the balconies. There are many little tapas bars and restaurants in the town to rest and enjoy the local produce. You can also buy many regional products, including the famous olive oil, cheeses and honey, and delicious fresh tropical fruits, and vegetables.

There is so much to do in town, including flamenco shows, walking and hiking, jeep tours, sailing trips, mountain bike hire, diving and other water sports. Want to learn Spanish? There are Spanish courses held locally too.

A little further from town you will find the famous Cuevas de Nerja (Nerja caves) - originally discovered by children playing in the area, these caves have the largest stalactites in Europe and are the third most famous attraction in Spain.

Behind the Nerja caves is the nature park - Sierra Tejeda, Alhama and Almijara - with wonderful walks and views. You can view the Spanish mountain goat (cabra hispanica) in its natural habitat. Besides walking, there are also some wonderful drives through the area.

Other attractions close by include Granada - 1.5 hours drive - including the famous Alhambra and close by the Sierra Nevada mountains with wonderful ski slopes. Visit the Alpujarras, a lovely mountainous area and the village of Trevelez, which is the highest village in Spain.

Malaga is also close by - the capital of Andalucia, it is worth a visit to the Picasso Museum, the cathedral, the Alcazaba and the Gibralfaro. Other day trips can be made to famous Cordoba, Sevilla, Ronda and Gibraltar.

In conclusion, Nerja is well worth a visit - the real Spain, with wonderful beaches!


About the Author

Anne Sewell is involved in web based accommodation reservations and advertising in Fuengirola, Spain. Visit All Spain Accommodation

Estepona - Quiet Gem on the Costa del Sol in Spain

Estepona is a wonderful little town - relatively unspoiled by tourism - and located on the Costa del Sol, about 30 minutes from Marbella, and only a short drive to Gibraltar. Unlike the busy towns of Marbella and Fuengirola, Estepona is relatively quiet - and the centre of town is still very traditionally Spanish. The winding narrow streets are lined with older houses, with balconies decorated with bright geraniums, and the sound of pet birds singing in their cages makes a lovely sound as you stroll along.

Relax in the Plaza de las Flores - a beautiful town square lined with flowers and several excellent cafes and bars. There's a coffee bar on virtually every corner of town and you will never go short on somewhere different to eat dinner, or have a light snack, or "tapas". On the beach you will find the famous beach "chiringuitos" serving excellent sea food and other dishes, or just an ice cold drink when you need one.

The outskirts are developing, however, and there are many huge apartment blocks sprouting up, but luckily this doesn't luckily interfere with the atmosphere and attractions of the town itself. New supermarkets and shopping centres have also been built on the outskirts, giving more shopping options for both residents and holidaymakers including the famous Carrefour and the ubiquitous McDonalds!

Running alongside the town is a beautiful Blue Flag beach, which is surprisingly quiet even in the summer months, lined by a stunning flower-strewn promenade. Estepona's beaches are in actual fact 21 kms long in total! Walk along the promenade from town to the end of the beach (a comfortable stroll), and you will find first the lighthouse, and then the Port of Estepona. The port is a traditional working fishing port, but there is also the addition of a modern marina, with lovely yachts, and a selection of fine restaurants serving international and Spanish cuisine and also a Yacht Club. Definitely the place to "hang out" in the evenings, with bars and nightclubs to entertain all ages.

For history buffs, there are interesting museums to visit including the archaeological museum, the Ethnic museum and also the museum at the bull ring. Quite a few interesting historical ruins in the town too. Selwo Aventura, close to Estepona, is the only Adventure, Animal and Nature Park in Europe - enjoy a safari drive in the warm Spanish sunshine. 200 species of animals can be viewed, and photographed. The town retains its original bull ring which hosts not only bull fighting, but also international music concerts.

Golfers will be happy with the selection of courses, including Atalaya Golf & Country Club, El Paraiso Golf Club (designed by Gary Player), Estepona Golf, Los Almendros and Golf SotoSerena.

Plenty of attractions close by too… you can easily visit Ronda, a fascinating mountain top city, or Ojen, a beautiful traditional white village, both reasonably close by, or pop down the coast to Marbella one way, or Gibraltar in the other direction, for shopping.

Accommodation:

In town, you will find small hotels and hostals to accommodate you in comfort, or you could go for the larger and more luxurious resort hotels on the outskirts of town. There are many wonderful holiday apartments on offer in the town - either along the beachfront, or above the marina, giving options to suit all.

Transport-wise, the town has an efficient bus service and many taxis, but you might find that you need a hire car to travel further afield.

Language: As for language, many workers in restaurants and shops do speak a certain amount of English, but it would be good to have your Spanish phrase book handy.

All in all, Estepona is the ideal destination for families, couples, golfers and the young. While retaining its traditional Spanish features, it offers everything one could want for the perfect holiday, and gives you a chance to relax without the crazy crowds!

About the Author:

Anne Sewell is involved in web based accommodation reservations and advertising in Fuengirola, Spain. Visit All Spain Accommodation

Writing Travel Articles by Anne Sewell

In this modern world, where more and more people can afford international travel, knowledge of the country to be visited is very important.

Thus persons who are knowledgeable about a particular country should try to write interesting articles, outlining not only the attractions of the country, city etc, but also any downfalls, dangers, etc. that people may experience. A bit of honesty goes a long way to prevent unhappy incidents while on holiday! For example, avoid Such-and-such Street as you may be mugged... don't go near Such-and-such Street as this is the red light district, etc.

Let people know what the most important attractions are, giving a little history if possible. Advise them on modes of travel in the particular country - whether it is more convenient to use public transport, or rent a vehicle. If language may be a problem, advise on buying a phrase book for common sayings in that particular country.

Other important things to bear in mind when writing a travel article and submitting to the article web sites:

1. Check your facts: make sure what you are stating in the article is, in fact, true.

2. Check your spelling, grammar and punctuation: there is nothing worse than badly spelled or worded text, especially for webmasters who wish to use your article as content on their websites! If at all worried, or if English is not your home language, have your article proof read by an English speaking person to check whether all is in order.

3. Don't make the article too short, or even too long - an ideal guide is to use between 500-1000 words for a comfortably readable article. If you have a lot to say, maybe split the information over several articles, i.e. part 1, part 2, etc.

4. Web site links: bear in mind that people with similar web sites to your own will want to publish your article as content. Do not pepper your article with several links within the body of the text - this will put people off using the content! They don't particularly want your article to take potential business away from them immediately. Try to use just one link in the resource box, or about the author section at the bottom of your article.

I hope this helps you in producing top quality articles for the travel web.

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